Apparatus and method for controlling display of EPG information

ABSTRACT

A method for controlling display of information on a display device includes storing information corresponding to a broadcast program guide. When a signal is received based on activation of a specific key while the first broadcast program is displayed on a screen, information on the first broadcast program and information on a second program to be broadcast after the first broadcast program is detected. The first broadcast program is then displayed in a first region of the screen simultaneously with the information on the first broadcast program and the information on the second broadcast program in a second region of the screen.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. National Stage Application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 having a 371 filing date of Dec. 13, 2010 (and filed on Dec. 22, 2009) of PCT Application No. PCT/KR2008/003562, filed Jun. 23, 2008, which claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2007-0061502, filed Jun. 22, 2007.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

The present invention relates to a broadcasting receiver, and more particularly, to a broadcasting receiver for displaying information on a currently watched program and information on a scheduled broadcast program on a screen, and a broadcast program providing method using the same.

2. Background

Recently, the number of channels provided by a broadcasting station has remarkably increased due to digital broadcasting, cable broadcasting, etc.

Accordingly, a technique capable of efficiently confirming information on numerous channels by a user has been proposed.

As one approach to such a technique is an electronic program guide (EPG) technique. The EPG is an application program used together with a digital subscriber set-top box to make a program schedule in which programs and summaries for respective channels are contained.

The EPG provides a guide which is the same as a printed television (TV) program guide and uses remote control equipment. The EPG has functions such as pay-per-view program order, program search for themes and types, and video recording.

However, when a user is desired to confirm information on a scheduled broadcast program through the EPG information, if a specific remote controller corresponding to a broadcasting receiver is lost or out of order, it is difficult to confirm detailed information on a specific channel, and the user should operate an additional remote controller in order to confirm a scheduled broadcast program while watching a broadcast program.

Moreover, if the user is desired to set a recording reservation function for a scheduled broadcast program, the user can not watch for a moment a currently watched program by setting a recording program by movement to a corresponding menu and it is complicated to manipulate the remote controller.

An object of the present invention devised to solve the problem lies on providing a broadcasting receiver which can confirm information on a scheduled broadcast program as well as information on a currently watched broadcast program by a simple manipulation of a remote controller, and a broadcast program providing method using the same.

Another object of the present invention devised to solve the problem lies on providing a broadcasting receiver which can automatically offer information on scheduled broadcast programs without inputting an additional key and can reserve and cancel program recoding by a simple key manipulation without stopping a currently watched broadcast program, and a broadcast program providing method using the same.

The object of the present invention can be achieved by providing a method for providing information on broadcast programs. The method includes: receiving and storing information on a broadcast program guide; if a user inputs a specific key while watching a broadcast program, detecting information on a currently watched broadcast program and information on a scheduled broadcast program; and displaying the information on the currently watched broadcast program and the information on the scheduled broadcast program in a partial region of a currently watched screen.

In another aspect of the present invention, provided herein is a broadcasting receiver including: a memory for receiving information on a broadcast program guide and storing information on channels; a controller for detecting information on a currently watched broadcast program and information on a scheduled broadcast program when a user inputs a specific key while watching a broadcast program; and a display for displaying the information on the currently watched broadcast program and the information on the scheduled broadcast program information in a partial region of a currently watched screen.

The present invention displays information on a currently watched broadcast program and information on a scheduled broadcast program on a screen by a simple key operation and can set or cancel a recording reservation for a broadcast program by using the displayed information, thereby increasing user's convenience. Further, information on broadcast programs can be easily obtained without interrupting viewing of the currently watched broadcast program.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a broadcasting receiver according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a method of providing information on broadcast programs of a broadcasting receiver according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A to 3C illustrate TV screens for providing information on broadcast programs according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate TV screens for providing information on a plurality of broadcast programs according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a TV screen for setting a recording reservation according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a method of automatically providing information on broadcast programs according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, a broadcasting receiver and a broadcast program information providing method using the same according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a broadcasting receiver providing information on broadcast programs according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a broadcasting receiver according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a TV providing information on a currently watched broadcast program and information on a scheduled broadcast program when a confirmation key of a remote controller is inputted. The broadcasting receiver includes a controller 102 for controlling the TV as a whole, a memory 103 for storing received EPG information, a tuner 108 for tuning a broadcasting channel by the control of the controller 102, a transport stream (TS) decoder 112 for processing a digital broadcasting signal, and an NTSC (NT) decoder 120 for processing an analog broadcasting signal.

The broadcasting receiver also includes an EPG generator 121 for extracting EPG information from side information contained in the digital or analog broadcasting signal and generating an EPG, a personal video recorder (PVR) module 122 for recording a received broadcast program by the selection of a user or temporarily storing the received broadcast program according to a time shift function, and an audio and video processor 134 for processing the digital or analog broadcasting signal, or broadcasting data provided by the PVR module 122 to be outputted through a speaker 136 and a display 137.

The controller 102 controls the TV as a whole. Especially, if a user inputs a confirmation key while watching the TV, the controller 102 searches the EPG which has received from a broadcasting station and previously been stored in the memory 103 and controls the display 137 to display information on scheduled broadcast program together with information on a currently watched broadcast program on a screen.

The information on the currently watched broadcast program provides the broadcasted amount of the currently watched broadcast program as a progress bar type to display a broadcast program progress state.

Information on broadcast programs detected from the memory 103 and provided by the controller 102 is information on one broadcast program which is to be broadcasted directly after the currently watched broadcast program is ended, or information on at least one broadcast program which is to be broadcasted after the currently watched broadcast program is ended.

When providing the information on the scheduled broadcast programs, the controller 102 provides up/down/left/right arrow keys. If a user selects a specific arrow key, information on a scheduled broadcast program is sequentially shifted to information on the next scheduled broadcast program. Alternatively, the information on the scheduled broadcast programs is displayed by automatic sliding conversion at intervals of a setting time.

If the user selects the left/right keys from the up/down/left/right arrow keys displayed in the information on the scheduled broadcast program, information on programs to be broadcasted through the same channel as the currently watched broadcast program is provided. If the user selects the up/down keys, information on programs to be broadcasted through other channels at the same time period as the scheduled broadcast program is provided.

If a key signal for making a recording reservation for a specific broadcast program is inputted by the user under the state that information on broadcast programs is displayed, the recording reservation for a selected program can be set or cancelled.

A user interface 106 is a keypad provided on a TV body or a remote controller. The user interface 106 transmits various commands or information inputted by the user to the controller 102. Especially, if the user inputs a confirmation key signal while watching a broadcast program, the user interface 106 provides the confirmation key signal to the controller 102 and provides a selection key signal inputted by the user on an on-screen display (OSD) to the controller 102.

The tuner 108 tunes channels out of broadcasting data inputted through a sky wave or a cable by the control of the controller 102. A digital broadcasting signal and an analog broadcasting signal among broadcasting signals received through the tuned channel are respectively supplied to the TS decoder 112 for processing the digital broadcasting signal and the NT decoder 120 for processing the analog broadcasting signal.

The TS decoder 112 decodes the digital broadcasting signal provided by the tuner 108, converts the decoded signal into audio and video streams and a data stream, and transmits the converted streams to a first switching unit 114.

The first switching unit 114 transmits the audio and video streams and the data stream to the EPG generator 121 by the control of the controller 102.

The EPG generator 121 generates an EPG with detailed information on broadcast programs by using side data contained in a received broadcast program and transmits the EPG to the memory 103.

A second switching unit 118 receives the analog broadcasting signal from the tuner 108 and an external input signal and selectively transmits any one of the two signals to the NT decoder 120 by the control of the controller 102.

The NT decoder 120 for processing the analog broadcasting signal receives the analog broadcasting signal or the external input signal from the second switching unit 118, decodes the analog broadcasting signal or the external input signal to audio and video data, and transmits audio and video streams and a data stream to the EPG generator 121 by the control of the controller 102.

The PVR module 122 receives the audio and video streams and the data stream of the digital broadcasting signal by the control of the controller 102 and stores them in a storage unit 127. Alternatively, the PVR module 122 MPEG encodes audio and video data of the analog broadcasting signal to the audio and video streams and stores the encoded streams in the storage unit 127.

Further, when receiving a broadcast program for which recording reservation is selected by the user, the PVR module 122 stores the corresponding broadcast program in the storage unit 127.

A third switching unit 130 selects at least one of the broadcast program received according to the control of the controller 102 and the broadcast program stored in the PVR module 122 and transmits the selected program to an audio and video decoder 132.

The audio and video decoder 132 decodes the audio and video streams to video and audio data and provides the audio and video data to the audio and video processor 134, when the audio and video streams are provided thereto. If the audio and video data is provided to the audio and video decoder 132, the audio and video decoder 132 provides the audio and video data to the audio and video processor 134.

The audio and video processor 134 processes at least one of the audio and video data provided by the audio and video decoder 132 and outputs the processed audio data and video data to the speaker 136 and the display 137, respectively. The audio and video processor 134 mixes OSD data provided by the controller 102 with the video data and transmits the mixed data to the display 137.

An OSD generator 138 generates an OSD signal for information on a currently watched broadcast program and information on a scheduled broadcast program when an EPG is executed under the control of the controller 102 and provides the OSD signal to the display 137.

A broadcast program providing method of the broadcasting receiver having the above-described construction will now be described with reference to FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a broadcast program providing method of a broadcasting receiver according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. If a user selects a menu in order to set information for providing an EPG through the interface 106 of the TV and inputs information for providing broadcast programs by using an OSD displayed on a screen (step S100), the information for providing the EPG is set and stored in the memory 103 and information on broadcast programs for each channel received from a broadcasting station is stored (step S110). If the user inputs a confirmation key by using a remote controller while watching a broadcast program received through a specific channel (step S120), the controller 102 searches information on a currently watched broadcast program and EPG information on scheduled broadcast programs (step S130). Thereafter, the controller 102 detects information on broadcast programs from the memory 103 (step S140).

Next, information on the currently watched broadcast program and information on the scheduled broadcast program to be broadcasted after the currently watched broadcast program is ended are displayed on a partial region of a TV screen (step S170).

Information 110 on broadcast programs may be displayed in a partial region of an upper part of a screen of a TV 100 as shown in FIG. 3A or displayed in a partial region of a side part of the screen as shown in FIG. 3B, so that the broadcast program information 110 does not occupy many parts of a currently watched screen.

As illustrated in FIG. 3A, the information 110 on a next scheduled program provided together with information on a currently watched broadcast program in a partial region of a viewing screen according to an input of the confirmation key by the user may be information on one program which is to be broadcasted directly after the currently watched broadcast program is ended or information on at least one program which is to be broadcasted after the currently watched broadcast program is ended.

If there is information on a plurality of programs to be displayed on the screen of the TV 100, the controller 102 controls the TV screen to display broadcast program information by conversion to information on a next program in order according to a key signal inputted through a remote controller by a user setting or to display broadcast program information by automatic sliding conversion at intervals of a setting time.

As illustrated in FIG. 3C, if there is information on a plurality of programs to be broadcasted, arrow keys 112 and 114 are provided at upper, lower, left and right sides of a scheduled broadcast program. If a user selects a specific arrow key, information on the scheduled broadcast program is converted into information on the next program and the converted information is displayed.

If the left/right keys 114 are selected among the up/down/left/right keys 112 and 114 displayed in the information of the scheduled broadcast program, information on programs which is to be broadcasted through the same channel as a currently watched broadcast program is provided. If the up/down keys 112 are selected, information on programs which is to be broadcasted through other channels at the same time period as the scheduled broadcast program is provided.

Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, displayed information on scheduled broadcast programs is changed when there is information on a plurality of scheduled broadcast programs. While a broadcast program entitled Drama Special′ is being provided by the selection of a user, the controller 102 provides information on a currently watched program and information on a next scheduled program by an input of a confirmation key or by information set to automatically display a program.

Thereafter, the controller 102 displays information on a plurality of broadcast programs which is to be broadcasted after the currently watched program is ended in broadcasting order by sliding conversion at intervals of a setting time.

For example, referring to FIG. 4A, information on a scheduled broadcast program ‘KBS News’ which is scheduled after the currently watched program is ended is displayed together with the information on the currently watched program. If a setting time elapses, information on a broadcast program which is to be broadcasted after the program ‘KBS News’ is ended, that is, information on a program ‘TV Cartoon’ is displayed together with the information on the currently watched program as shown in FIG. 4B.

In a method of displaying a plurality of broadcast programs, program information may be displayed with time intervals according to user setting or displayed by information conversion one by one according to an arrow key signal inputted by the user.

Meanwhile, while the user is watching a broadcast program received through a specific channel, if a confirmation key signal is not inputted even though it is almost time to end the corresponding broadcast program in step S120, the controller 102 checks whether the broadcast program information is set to be automatically displayed by confirming information for providing the EPG set in the memory 103 (step S150). If the program information is set to be automatically displayed, the controller 102 detects information on a next scheduled program at a setting time before the currently watched program is ended (step S160). The controller 102 displays information on the currently watched program and information on the next scheduled program (step S170).

If a recording reservation signal for the displayed scheduled broadcast program is inputted by the user under the state that information on broadcast programs is displayed, the controller 102 sets the corresponding broadcast program selected by the user to be recorded. If a cancel signal for the broadcast program for which recording is scheduled is inputted, a recording reservation is cancelled.

Referring to FIG. 5, if the user inputs a confirmation key while watching a broadcast program, information on a currently watched broadcast program and information on a scheduled broadcast program are displayed at an upper side of a screen. If the user sets a recording reservation for the scheduled program ‘KBS News’ which is to be broadcasted after the current program ‘Drama Special’ is ended, recording reservation setting is displayed in the information on the scheduled broadcast program. The recording reservation setting can be cancelled by a simple key operation.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a method of automatically providing information on broadcast programs according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, if a user selects a menu in order to set information for providing an EPG through the interface 106 of the TV and automatically sets information for providing broadcast programs by using an OSD displayed on a screen (step S200), the information is stored in the memory 103 and information on broadcast programs for each channel received from a broadcasting station is stored (step S210).

The controller 102 provides a broadcast program received through a specific channel selected by a user and periodically confirms an end time of a currently watched program (step S220). If the end time of the currently watched program is before a predetermined time set to automatically provide information on a broadcast program, the controller 102 searches information on the currently watched broadcast programs and EPG information on a next scheduled program and detects the detected information from the memory 103 (step S240).

Next, information on the currently watched broadcast program and information on the next scheduled program are automatically displayed in a partial region of the screen (step S250).

Information on broadcast programs is displayed in a partial region of an upper part or a side part of the TV screen, so that the broadcast program information does not occupy many parts of a currently watched screen.

If there is information on a plurality of scheduled broadcast programs to be displayed on the TV screen, the controller 102 controls the TV screen to display broadcast program information by conversion to information on a next program in order according to a key signal inputted through a remote controller by a user setting or to display broadcast program information by automatic sliding conversion at intervals of a setting time.

It is desirable that the information on the scheduled broadcast programs is information on broadcast programs which are to be broadcasted through the same channel as the currently watched program.

If there is information on a plurality of programs to be broadcasted, up/down/left/right arrow keys are provided. Moreover, information on programs which are to be broadcasted through the same channel as the currently watched program or information on programs which are to be broadcasted through other channels at the same time period as the scheduled broadcast program is provided.

Meanwhile, if the end time of the currently watched program is not before a predetermined time set to automatically provide information on a broadcast program, the broadcast program received through a specific channel selected by the user is provided on the screen and periodically confirms the end time of the currently watched broadcast program (step S230).

If a recording reservation signal for the scheduled broadcast program is inputted, the controller 102 sets the corresponding broadcast program selected by the user to be recorded. If a cancel signal for the broadcast program for which recording is scheduled is inputted, recording reservation setting is cancelled.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Various embodiments have been described in the best mode for carrying out the invention. The present invention provides information on a currently watched broadcast program and information on a scheduled broadcast program by a simple key operation and can set or cancel a recording reservation for a broadcast program by using the provided information. Further, information on broadcast programs can be easily obtained without interrupting viewing of the currently watched broadcast program. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for providing information on broadcasting programs, comprising: receiving and storing information on a broadcasting program guide, the information on the broadcasting program guide comprising first program information that includes program information of currently viewed broadcasting program of a channel, second program information that includes information of a first broadcast program to be broadcasted after the currently viewed broadcasting program in the channel, and third program information that includes information of a second broadcast program to be broadcasted after the first broadcast program in the channel; displaying the currently viewed broadcasting program of the channel in a screen; displaying the currently viewed broadcasting program's title among the first program information in a first region; displaying selectable four arrows around the first broadcast program's title in a second region such that both of the first broadcast program's title and the selectable four arrows around the first broadcast program's title are displayed in the second region adjacent to the first region on the displayed currently viewed broadcasting program if there is program information on at least one broadcast program to be broadcast, wherein the selectable four arrows includes a first arrow at a top side of the second region, a second arrow at a right side of the second region, a third arrow at a bottom side of the second region, and a fourth arrow at a left side of the second region, wherein the first broadcast program's title is positioned between the first arrow and the third arrow, and the first broadcast program's title is also positioned between the second arrow and the fourth arrow, wherein the first and third arrows are to output another broadcast program's title from a next or previous channel while maintaining a time period, and the second and fourth arrows are to output a next or previous broadcast program's title while maintaining a channel number corresponding to the first broadcast program's title displayed within the second region; selecting one arrow of the selectable four arrows around the first broadcast program's title in the second region adjacent to the first region on the displayed currently viewed broadcast program; in response to the selecting of the one arrow in the second region, changing program title only in the second region while maintaining the currently viewed broadcasting program's title in the first region and maintaining the currently viewed broadcasting program.
 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: setting or canceling a recording reservation for the first broadcast program that is to be broadcasted subsequent to the currently viewed broadcasting program of the channel based on a control signal.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first region of the screen displays a progress bar or other information indicating an amount of time that has elapsed from a start of the currently viewed broadcasting program of the channel.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first program information and the second program information are displayed on the screen when a control signal is inputted by a user.
 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second region on the screen is horizontally adjacent to the first region on the screen.
 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the currently viewed broadcasting program's title is displayed in a first direction, and the second region of the screen is adjacent the first region of the screen in the first direction.
 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the currently viewed broadcasting program's title is displayed in a first direction, and the second region of the screen is adjacent the first region of the screen in a direction perpendicular to the first direction.
 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first region is identified by four displayed sides, and the second region is identified by four displayed sides.
 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first and third arrows displayed in the second region are to navigate program information between channels.
 10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first arrow is an up arrow, the third arrow is a down arrow, the fourth arrow is a left arrow and the second arrow is a right arrow.
 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second program information displayed in the second region includes information on only one program that is to be broadcasted subsequent to the currently viewed broadcasting program of the channel.
 12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second region is defined by four sides, and a displayed first side of the four sides of the second region separates the second region from the first region.
 13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the currently viewed broadcasting program's title in the first region is displayed simultaneously with displaying of the first broadcast program's title in the second region.
 14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the currently viewed broadcasting program's title in the first region is displayed simultaneously with the second broadcast program's title in the second region.
 15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first broadcast program's title is displayed in the second region between the first arrow and the third arrow.
 16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second and fourth arrows to change a time period of the program information.
 17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first region is immediately adjacent to the second region.
 18. The method according to claim 1, wherein fourth program information includes information of a third broadcast program to be broadcasted at another time period and on another channel, the method comprising: in response to selecting of one of the first or third arrow in the second region, changing channel information in the second region while maintaining the currently viewed broadcasting program's title in the first region and maintaining the currently viewed broadcasting program.
 19. A broadcasting receiver, comprising: a memory for receiving and storing information on a broadcast program guide; a controller for receiving first program information and second program information from the stored information on the broadcasting program guide, the first program information being program information of a currently viewed broadcasting program of a channel, and the second program information being program information of a first broadcast program to be broadcasted after the currently viewed broadcasting program in the channel, and third program information that includes information of a second broadcast program to be broadcasted after the first broadcast program in the channel; and a display for displaying the currently viewed broadcasting program of the channel in a screen, for displaying the currently viewed broadcasting program's title among the first program information in a first region, and for displaying selectable four arrows around the first broadcast program's title in a second region such that both of the first broadcast program's title and the selectable four arrows around the first broadcast program's title are displayed in the second region adjacent to the first region on the displayed currently viewed broadcasting program if there is program information on at least one broadcast program to be broadcast, wherein the selectable four arrows includes a first arrow at a top side of the second region, a second arrow at a right side of the second region, a third arrow at a bottom side of the second region, and a fourth arrow at a left side of the second region, wherein the first broadcast program's title is positioned between the first arrow and the third arrow, and the first broadcast program's title is also positioned between the second arrow and the fourth arrow, wherein the first and third arrows are to output another broadcast program's title from a next or previous channel while maintaining a time period, and the second and fourth arrows are to output a next or previous broadcast program's title while maintaining a channel number corresponding to the first broadcast program's title displayed within the second region; wherein the controller is configured to receive a selection of one arrow of the selectable four arrows around the first broadcast program's title in the second region adjacent to the first region on the displayed currently viewed broadcasting program, and in response to the selecting of the one arrow of the selectable four arrows around the first broadcast program's title in the second region adjacent to the first region on the displayed currently viewed broadcasting program, wherein the controller is further configured to control the display to change program title only in the second region while maintaining the currently viewed broadcasting program's title in the first region and maintaining the currently viewed broadcasting program.
 20. The broadcasting receiver according to claim 19, wherein the controller sets or cancels a recording reservation for the first broadcast program that is to be broadcasted subsequent to the currently viewed broadcasting program of the channel based on a control signal.
 21. The broadcasting receiver according to claim 19, wherein the display displays, in the first region of the screen, a progress bar or other information indicating an amount of time that has elapsed from a start of the currently viewed broadcasting program of the channel.
 22. The broadcasting receiver according to claim 19, wherein the second program information displayed in the second region includes a program start time and a program end time.
 23. The broadcasting receiver according to claim 19, wherein the first program information and the second program information are displayed when a control signal is inputted by a user. 